The amount of protection you can get depends on how extensive a security system is. When networked with other devices like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide sensors, the effectiveness of a system is magnified because it can give warning against all types of threats. Advances in technology have also made it possible for alarm monitoring through various means, such as by cellphone.

Electronic gadgets that are linked with alarm system monitoring services usually have special applications that allow owners to communicate with the central monitoring station. The system feeds data to the station via a PLS wireless module and sends it to the homeowner's mobile phone or tablet for first-hand tracking.

Having this kind of setup has its share of benefits. While it is very important to retain an existing landline for regular use, since burglars can cut phone lines from outside, a secondary method of sending signals must be in place. Since cellphones operate with a different kind of signal technology, they can be very effective as backups. Based on this information, you should never cut corners on security even if you think that the immediate neighborhood around your home or facility is secure; you never know when unscrupulous individuals will strike.

Anyone with a laptop, tablet, or smartphone can now monitor every nook and cranny of his/her house no matter where he/she is. Technology continues to make things easier for this purpose, but it's also making things more accessible to thieves. Thus, for security experts, self-monitoring isn't enough because high-tech criminals are more than capable of overcoming homemade systems; in fact, even big businesses and banks that employ the latest hardware are still susceptible to well-organized raids.

Instead, a third party alarm monitoring system is recommended because it keeps close tabs on your property at all times and they can inform the proper authorities much faster than you ever could. Even if you are an engineer who can design and install your own advanced monitoring devices, you can't stay awake 24/7 and you can't always have an eye on your camera feed. Moreover, you might not have access to the newest gadgets and techniques that are only available to industry professionals.

Acquiring monitoring services is not only more reliable, it is also easier on the pocket. There are companies who offer round-the-clock service at very low monthly rates. This is definitely more affordable and flexibile compared to investing in expensive and complicated equipment that might not even work.

If you're the head of your household, you've probably gone to great lengths to ensure that your home is equipped with the latest home alarm systems. You may have motion sensor detectors in all the entry points, and even got infrared cameras in your backyard. However, while these alarms will be effective in alerting you to possible criminals and trespassers in your property, what happens when your family heads off to a vacation and you're not around to hear the alarm go off?

Sure, you may be chummy with your next-door neighbors and you know for a fact that they will alert the authorities when they hear your alarms sound off, but can you really rely on them 24/7? For this reason, it is smart to get security system monitoring services to work alongside with your home alarms. When a trespasser triggers a motion sensor detector, for instance, a signal will be sent to the alarm monitoring company and they will then notify the police so they can respond properly to the situation.

Alarm monitoring services can be connected via a landline or a cellular network. Between the two, the latter is more reliable because it's accessible at all times unlike a landline which can be easily disconnected by criminals. Thus, look for alarm monitoring companies that also utilizes cellular networks, so you'll have peace of mind knowing that your property is safe even when you're not around.

As a homeowner, it's always better to be safe than sorry, and employ several safety measures to make sure that your house is burglar-proof, especially when you're not home most of the time. According to the FBI, most burglars tend to break into homes between 10AM and 3PM, when the house is conveniently empty.

One of the simplest burglar-proofing methods is locking the front door. The FBI shares that 1 in 4 homeowners have admitted to forgetting to do this simple task at least once in the past year. Statistics show that most burglars use front doors as their entry point, so you should always remember to lock it when going out–and better yet, install a deadbolt lock for extra protection. Lock your ground floor windows as well, and try not to put spare keys in “hidden” places outside the house where burglars can easily look.

Trim shrubs in your yard so as not to give burglars a convenient spot to hide, and install blinds that can prevent outsiders from looking into the house. When away on vacation, stop magazine subscriptions and avoid posting vacation updates through your social media account, because it could inform potential intruders that you're not at home. Furthermore, installing a first-rate security system can deter burglars from choosing your home as their target.

The safety of your home and family is of utmost importance. Even the simplest safety measures can ensure that your house is burglar-proof – and it stays that way.

You’ve finally completed that all-important project you’ve been working on for the past several months, so you decide to take a week or two off to de-stress. However, before you leave for your vacation, you need to carry out a few preparations to secure your property from fire or burglary. Here are some tips you might want to keep in mind.

First, if you're subscribed to an alarm monitoring service, be sure to inform your provider that you’ll be away for a few days. In case you’ve only signed up for telephone monitoring, you might want to add mobile phone monitoring to your service package so you can get instant notifications about any attempted burglary. Likewise, ask your provider for advice on how you can make use of their services from a distance.

Do not, under any circumstances, announce your plans on the Internet. You don't want potential intruders to know when and how long you'll be gone, after all. Even if you have a reliable alarm monitoring service, it helps to keep your vacation details private.

Finally, keep in mind that your alarm monitoring service will be useful only if you can be contacted regarding any irregularities that transpire on your property. Before going out of town, provide your monitoring provider with a list of contacts they can communicate with while you're away. Make sure these contacts are people you trust, and preferably those who live near your home.

The FBI reported about 9 million property crimes for 2011, which is already an improvement over the 9.8 million in 2007. As the name implies, these crimes are directed against a person's possessions, such as theft, trespassing, and burglary. As the incidence of these events is expected to remain relatively high in succeeding years, citizens are advised to improve their home security in any way they can.

Working with a home security monitoring service is one of these ways, and is often cited to be one of the more effective steps that helps prevent crime. The idea behind this is that alarms are monitored by a separate station, notifying authorities and their clients once they sound. Monitored alarms come in many forms such as standard trip alarms, motion sensors, and CCTV cameras.

The message sent by the monitoring station is traditionally sent via phone lines, although some companies now use cellular, digital, or analog radio to do the same thing. Still, there are those who use a combination of these to transmit their message in an effort to work around each one's limitations. Some have also adopted better transmission protocols like ASAP to send messages even faster for quicker response times.

The point of having a home security system in place is to thwart unauthorized entry or, failing that, to call your attention to unusual occurrences in your property in real time. Your security system should, thus, be equipped to send out distress signals the moment trouble is detected. For years, such a function relied on phone lines, but with the shift toward mobile phones in recent years, home security systems have inevitably evolved and kept up with the times.

Modern security systems now take advantage of cellular technologies that notify the home owner of a possible fire or burglary through mobile phone. More advanced ones even feature entirely independent interfaces that can immediately communicate with the alarm monitoring company. It's a long overdue change that lets you keep watch over your property no matter where you may be, whether or not you have access to a telephone line. You can, thus, rest assured that your security system won't fail you when you really need it to come through.

Security systems cannot afford to be vulnerable at any point. Thanks to new and better features that allow home security systems to operate independently of telephone connections, property owners can stay informed of any security risk, even when phone lines are cut.

Home security is very serious business, and you can't afford to let amateurs handle it. Finding only the best in the realm of security is crucial to maintaining the safety of your humble abode. In light of that, here are a few things to look for in security companies that will help guarantee that your home will remain as safe as it can possibly be.

Hone in as much as you can on the actual factors that are going to contribute to home safety when looking for the right company. See to it that they provide comprehensive protection not just from potential intruders but also from incidents that may originate inside. A company that pays attention to detail is what you want here, so be on the lookout for the most highly organized security system that is available.

Once you're done looking over the details of a particular company's security measures, it's now time to focus on the terms of the agreement that they are willing to offer you. Look for the best deal but make sure that you don't get too fixated on pricing that you end up undermining the viability of the security system altogether. Get the best value possible without cutting corners.

Installing any kind of surveillance system at home or in the office can provide you with a sense of security. You can be assured of full protection for your family and belongings 24/7. However, the effectiveness of any security setup depends on how quick an alarm monitoring system can provide immediate response.

For example, if a fire alarm is triggered in your home, how fast can your alarm monitoring system provider contact you? Of course, their first natural reaction would be to call the fire department, but they also have to inform you of the urgent situation. Landlines are the usual mode of communication, but they are not always reliable. They may be busy or disconnected for one reason or another.

Consequently, property owners need to have an alternative alarm monitoring device that's more reliable. A mobile phone can be the best solution to this problem. It is very handy and, since you carry it around, makes it easier for your security provider to reach you. If you use a smartphone, your provider can call you via a cellular network or through Wi-Fi, which makes communication much more flexible.

There are various other alarm monitoring systems to choose from in the market, but those that enable your mobile phone to be used as the main monitoring and communication tool provides the convenience and security you are looking for.

Many homeowners now realize the benefit of equipping their homes with high-tech alarm and security systems. These come in a wide range of forms: from motion sensors to keypad data entry systems to night-vision cameras. However, traditional unmonitored alarm systems may not be of much use for homes that are left unattended; intruders can enter the home with the intention of stealing and no one will be around to notify the proper authorities of the breakage or alarm trigger.

For this reason, alarm networks must be complemented by an alarm monitoring system. Essentially, an alarm monitoring system watches your alarms. When a motion sensor goes off because intruders have entered the premises, the alarm monitoring system automatically sends a signal to the central monitoring station in your security company's office. The security provider then notifies the police headquarters, which in turn, dispatches a patrol unit to your home.

Alarm signals are typically sent in two ways: via landlines or a cellular/GSM network. Some companies offer both, with the telephone line as the main communication channel and the cellular/GSM system as a backup. A homeowner is bound to have better results with a cellular system as there is less or no risk of signal interruption. An intruder can also track and cut landlines but he won't have any way to sever cellular/GSM lines.